COMPULSORY second languages for school teens, disclosure of ministerial meetings and compensation for victims of employment discrimination are among the topics due to be debated as part of this week’s sitting of the States Assembly.
Having been postponed last month, the proposition by Deputy Montfort Tadier stipulating that all pupils must study at least one language – as well as English – to GCSE level is back on the agenda.
The proposed move has put the St Brelade representative on a potential collision course with Education Minister Rob Ward, a colleague of Deputy Tadier in the ranks of Reform Jersey.
Deputy Ward has put forward an amendment which would see the matter reviewed by the Jersey Curriculum Council before any decision was reached, but Deputy Tadier described the amendment as “a pretext for inaction”.
Former Chief Minister Kristina Moore will put forward her proposition that ministerial codes of conduct should be updated to require details of all external meetings attended by ministers and assistant ministers regarding government matters, plus travel outside of the Island, to be published monthly.
Deputy Moore said she believed that openness was a leading principle for those in public life and “constitutes an important part of building trust in government”.
Ministers have expressed reservations about some of the details around meetings, as well as pointing out that travel information is already published. The Privileges and Procedures Committee stated that while it agreed with the principles of openness and transparency, the proposition “lacked detail” and raised “a number of questions”.
Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham is putting forward new legislation that would see the maximum compensation that can be awarded to Islanders discriminated against by their employer rising from £10,000 to £50,000.
Deputy Malcolm Ferey is seeking to amend the upper limit to £30,000, describing the minister’s figure as “excessive” and a potential barrier to employment for some Islanders.
The Assembly will also debate propositions brought forward by Children’s Minister Richard Vibert creating a statutory framework around independent advocates for young Islanders, plus proposed legislation to adapt Jersey Law in respect of modern and same-sex families.
Oral questions scheduled to be asked at tomorrow’s sitting cover a range of topics including the Battle of Flowers, the reorganisation of the Health Department, food supplies in shops and potential changes to the law around Freedom of Information requests.